Aquilaria sinensis. A. agallocha  沉 香 Chén xiāng  Agarwood, Aloes wood resin, Eagle (referring to the petals or spurs) wood sap     Family: Thymelaeaceae
Agarwood, also known as agar, is a dark resinous heartwood that forms in Aquilaria and Gyrinops trees (large evergreens native to southeast Asia) when they become infected with a type of mould. Prior to infection, the heartwood is relatively light and pale coloured; however, as the infection progresses, the tree produces a dark aromatic resin in response to the attack, which results in a very dense, dark, resin embedded heartwood. The resin embedded wood is commonly called agarwood, and is valued in many cultures for its distinctive fragrance, and thus is used for incense and perfumes.
PART USED: Wood oleoresin
Nature: warm      FLAVOR: Acrid, pungent, bitter  CHANNELS: Spleen, Stomach, Kidney
ACTIONS: Tonic, stimulant, carminative, aphrodisiac, and diuretic. Supposed to possess certain occult virtues, making it useful in getting rid of evil spirits.[4]
FUNCTIONS
GROUP: Regulating Qi
1. Directs rebelious Qi downwards.[1,3] Disperse the Cold- used for Cold deficiency conditions.[3]
2. Reinforces the Kidney.[1] Warm up Kidneys.
3. Warm up middle region. Regulates middle Heater, alleviates pain.[1]
INDICATIONS
1. Mainly for lower abdominal pain:[1,3] cold sensation below navel with low abdominal pain. Abdominal pain, tightness of chest, vomiting and regurgitation, diarrhea, asthma.[1]
2. Cold abdominal pain, vomiting, hiccup, panting. Retching due to Cold Stomach.[3]
3. Assistant herb for bronchial asthma (Lung Qi stagnation- oppressive Qi rises in Lung).[3]
PATENT COMBINATIONS
PREPARATIONS: Decoction 1-3 g.[1] Highly resinous wood 1.5-4.5 g.[2] The product tree has been felled for somth months or years, and a dark, resinous, aromatic juice is met with in the wood, mainly deposited in certain portions of the vascular tissue, more especially of the heart of the tree. This valuable heavy wood is called agar. The trees are sometimes buried in order to increase, or to facilitate the removal of the prized oleoresin.
          
DESCRIPTION: The wood of the sound tree is light, pale, and very slightly odorous, being used to scent clothes.
References
Inner Path can not take any responsibility for any adverse effects from the use of plants. Always seek advice from a professional before using a plant medicinally.
Research

Neuroprotective compounds from the resinous heartwood of Aquilaria sinensis
Qian He, Dong-Bao Hu, Lu Zhang, Meng-Yuan Xia, Hui Yan, Xiao-Nian Li, Ji-Feng Luo, Yun-Song Wang, Jing-Hua Yang, Yue-Hu Wang
Abstract
Six undescribed compounds, including three sesquiterpenoids [(4S,5S,7S,8S,11R)-7-hydroxyguai-1(10)-en-8,12-olide, aquilarisinone, and 2Z,7(13),9E-humulatrien-12-ol-5-one], one diphenylpentanone [1-(2-hydroxyphenyl)-5-phenylpentan-3-one], and two 2-(2-phenylethyl)chromones (6-epiagarotetrol and triepoxyhexahydrochromone A), along with 15 known compounds, were isolated from the resinous heartwood of Aquilaria sinensis (Thymelaeaceae). Their structures were determined by mass (MS) and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopic data. The absolute configuration of (4S,5S,7S,8S,11R)-7-hydroxyguai-1(10)-en-8,12-olide was confirmed by X-ray diffraction analysis, and the configurations of (4S,7S,8S,10R,11R)-7,10-epoxyguai-1(5)-en-8,12-olide, aquilarisinone, 6-epiagarotetrol, and triepoxyhexahydrochromone A were confirmed by electronic circular dichroism (ECD) calculations. The neuroprotective activities of the compounds were evaluated using models of BACE1 inhibition and PC12 cells with corticosterone- and 1-methyl-4-phenylpyridine ion (MPP+)-induced damage. At concentrations of 1, 2, and 5 μM, triepoxyhexahydrochromone A, (+)-(7R,10R)-selina-4,11(13)-diene-12,15-dial, (-)-(5R,7R,10R)-12,15-dioxo-α-selinene, and (+)-(1R,4S,5R)-1β-hydroxyeremophila-7(11),9-dien-8-one exerted significant protective effects (p < 0.01) on PC12 cell injury induced by corticosterone, while triepoxyhexahydrochromone A and (-)-(5R,7R,10R)-12,15-dioxo-α-selinene exerted significant protective effects (p < 0.01) on MPP+-induced PC12 cell injury at concentrations of 1, 2, and 5 μM. No compounds produced significant inhibitory effects on BACE1, with inhibition rates of less than 20% observed at a concentration of 20 μM.
Phytochemistry 2021 Jan;181:112554. doi: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2020.112554. Epub 2020 Nov 2. PMID: 33152579 DOI: 10.1016/j.phytochem.2020.112554 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Combination of Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) Gilg and Aucklandia costus Falc. Volatile Oils Exerts Antidepressant Effects in a CUMS-Induced Rat Model by Regulating the HPA Axis and Levels of Neurotransmitters
Huiting Li, Yuanhui Li, Xiaofei Zhang, Guilin Ren, Liangfeng Wang, Jianzhe Li, Mengxue Wang, Tao Ren, Yi Zhao, Ming Yang, Xiaoying Huang
Abstract
The Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) Gilg (CX)-Aucklandia costus Falc. (MX) herbal pair is frequently used in traditional Chinese medicine prescriptions for treating depression. The volatile oil from CX and MX has been shown to have good pharmacological activities on the central nervous system, but its curative effect and mechanism in the treatment of depression are unclear. Therefore, the antidepressant effect of the volatile oil from CX-MX (CMVO) was studied in chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) rats. The suppressive effects of CMVO (25, 50, 100 μL/kg) against CUMS-induced depression-like behavior were evaluated using the forced swimming test (FST), open field test (OFT) and sucrose preference test (SPT). The results showed that CMVO exhibited an antidepressant effect, reversed the decreased sugar preference in the SPT and prolongation of immobility time in the FST induced by CUMS, increased the average speed, time to enter the central area, total moving distance, and enhanced the willingness of rats to explore the environment in the OFT. Inhalational administration of CMVO decreased levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone and corticosterone in serum and the expression of corticotropin-releasing hormone mRNA in the hypothalamus, which indicated regulation of over-activation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. In addition, CMVO restored levels of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), dopamine, norepinephrine and acetylcholine in the hippocampus. The RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry results showed that CMVO up-regulated the expression of 5-HT1A mRNA. This study demonstrated the antidepressant effect of CMVO in CUMS rats, which was possibly mediated via modulation of monoamine and cholinergic neurotransmitters and regulation of the HPA axis.
Front Pharmacol 2021 Feb 24;11:614413. doi: 10.3389/fphar.2020.614413. eCollection 2020. PMID: 33716727 PMCID: PMC7943885 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2020.614413 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activities of Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) Gilg. Leaves extract
Minhua Zhou 1, Honggang Wang, Suolangjiba, Junping Kou, Boyang Yu
Abstract
Aim of the study: The analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities of the ethanol extract of Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) Gilg. Leaves were observed in various experimental models related to nociception and inflammation, so as to provide some evidence for its traditional use.
Materials and methods: Acetic acid-induced writhing and a hot plate test in mice were used to evaluate its analgesic activity. On the other hand, its anti-inflammatory activity was observed in xylene or carrageenan-induced edema, carboxymethylcellulose sodium (CMC-Na)-induced leukocyte migration in mice and lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) release from mouse peritoneal macrophages in vitro.
Results: The ethanol extract significantly inhibited acetic acid-induced writhing after single oral administration at doses of 424 and 848 mg extract/kg, and the response to the thermal stimulus in mice at the dose of 848 mg/kg. Meanwhile, the ethanol extract also remarkably lessened xylene-induced ear swelling, carrageenan-induced paw edema, and CMC-Na-induced leukocyte migration. Furthermore, the extract considerably reduced NO release from LPS-stimulated macrophages with IC50 of 80.4 mg/ml.
Conclusion: These findings suggest that Aquilaria sinensis (Lour.) Gilg. Leaves extract present notable analgesic and anti-inflammatory activities, which support its folkloric use for some diseases related with painful and inflammatory conditions such as trauma etc.
J Ethnopharmacol . 2008 May 8;117(2):345-50. doi: 10.1016/j.jep.2008.02.005. Epub 2008 Feb 12. PMID: 18353573 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov